What is Philmont All About? · 2020-03-17 · What is Philmont? •One of the four National High...

What is Philmont All About?

An Introduction to Philmont Treks and Programs

NCAC HAC Training Session I

November 12, 2017

George Gadbois

What is Philmont?

• One of the four National High Adventure Bases operated by the Boy Scouts of America

• More than 215 square miles of Northern New Mexico wilderness donated to the BSA by Waite Phillips

• Over 20,000 Scouts and Scoutersattend Philmont each summer

Rio Gra nd e

River

Santa Fe

Ca na d ia n

River

Albuquerque

Gallup

Pec os River

CarlsbadLas Cruces

Gila

River

CARLSBADCAVERNS

NATIONAL PARK

NEWMEXICO

25

4040

25

10

TAOS CO.

COLFAX CO.

CIMARRON

RATON

TAOS

to COLORADO SPRINGS

and DENVERCOLORADO

to SANTA FE and ALBUQUERQUE

NEW MEXICO

The NCAC Philmont Trips:

• Day 1

–Baltimore/Washington to either Denver or Albuquerque

–Sightseeing

• Day 2 (Standard Trips)

– Additional Touring and Sightseeing

These Days Allow for Acclimation to the

Altitude

The NCAC Philmont Trips

• Day 2 (Economy)/Day 3 (Standard)

–Arrival @ Base Camp

–Check-in

• Day 3/4 – Day 13/14

–On The Trail!

• Day 14/15

–Check Out, Return Home

The NCAC Philmont Trips

• Your NCAC trip fee includes:– Philmont fees

– Travel

– Admission fees

– All meals

– Gratuities

– Contingent Leader

– Administrative fees

• Final fee will be announced in March

The Philmont Experience

• 11-day/10-night backpacking

expeditions

– 35 pre-selected itineraries to choose from

– 50 – 90+ miles total length

– Challenging, Rugged, Strenuous or Super

Strenuous

– Elevations range from 6,500 feet (at base

camp) to 12,441 feet

The Philmont Experience

• All personal gear, crew gear and food is

carried on your back (30-50 pounds)

• Each night is spent at a different

backcountry camp (80+ total camps)

• All cooking is done on backpacking stoves

• Two days of training by a Philmont Ranger

The Philmont Experience

• Backcountry Camps offer various unique

program opportunities

• A chance to meet other Scouts from around

the country – and the world

• Personal Development

• 50-Miler Award

• Potential for Hiking and Backpacking MBs

“What do you do besides hiking?”

The TREKS Guide

• The Official Guide to Philmont Itineraries

• Available in mid-March

• Includes Day-by-Day Breakdown, Map and

Elevation Profile for Each Trek

Although You Won’t Choose Until Next March,

Start Thinking About Your Trek NOW

Choosing A Trek

• Factors to Consider:

– Total Mileage

– Difficulty

– Program Opportunities

• Decide AS A CREW which programs you want to do

• Many popular programs are offered at multiple camps

(rock climbing, horseback riding)

• Consider “Double-Dipping”: doing program at a pass-

thru camp

– The High Peaks

• Baldy, Phillips, Tooth of Time, etc.

Challenging

• 50 – 60 Total Miles

• Generally Only Cover a Portion of the

Ranch (i.e., South Country)

• May Climb One or Two Peaks

• Lots of Time for Programs

• Layover Day

• Best Suited for Younger Crews w/o

Significant Experience

Rugged

• 60 – 70 Total Miles

• Cover More Territory Than Typical

• Include at Least One or Two Peaks

• Adequate Time for Programs

• Best Suited for Younger Crews That

Have Some Backpacking Experience

Strenuous

• 70 – 80 Total Miles

• Cover a Significant Portion of the

Ranch (i.e., Start in South Country &

Finish in North Country)

• Include Several Peaks

• Limited Time for Programs

• Best Suited for Experienced Older

Crews (Ages 15 and up)

Super Strenuous

• 80+ Total Miles

• Cover Most of the Ranch

• Include Several Peaks

• Longer Hiking Days

• Limited Time for Programs

• Should Only be Attempted by Older

Crews (16 and up) w/ Significant

Experience

Avoid…

• “Under-Trekking”

– Choosing a Trek That Is “Too Easy”

– Too Much “Down Time”

• “Over-Trekking”

– Doing More Miles Than Crew Can

Physically/Emotionally Handle

– Missing Program Opportunities

– Constantly Hiking

Additional Resources

• NCAC HAC Website– http://www.boyscouts-ncac.org/highadventure

• Philmont Website– www.scouting.org/philmont

• PhilSearch– http://www.philsearch.org

• Tooth of Time Traders (Philmont Trading Post)– http://www.toothoftimetraders.com

• Like us on Facebook: – www.facebook.com/ncachighadventure

Important Dates

• January 21, 2018– Training Session – Location TBD

• March 3, 2018– Outdoor Skills Training (Location TBA)

• March 10 – and – March 17, 2018– Mandatory Advisor Hikes @ Catoctin Mountain

Park, Thurmont – You Must Attend One

• June 2, 2018– Final Meeting @ Marriott Scout Center, 9 a.m.